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Genre-Defining Games?

Posted by Zonk on from the because-who-doesn't-love-maniac-mansion? dept.

Gamasutra has up responses from its frequent feature, the question of the Week. This week's question was a call for the best of the best. "For any genre of your choice, what is the game that defines that genre for you?" From the article: "For the RPG, simply Final Fantasy 6. It has the best story, greatest variety of characters, tons of different music, and added many secret areas. It was the first game to truly to define a real experience of an RPG to the player. -Anonymous" What games would you refer to as Genre Defining?

3 of 231 comments (clear)

  1. Not Genre defining, but... by TrippTDF · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There is a moment in Max Payne 2 where you can listen to recorded messages from Max's tapped phone lines. You hear a couple of phone conversations that push the story a little, and then there is one where Max calls a phone sex line. He sounds depressed, lonely and in a way, confused.

    The whole game you have Max in your ear, talking in this very noir tone. He's narrating his own story, if you will, and telling the player what he wants them to hear. That moment when you hear the phone sex call was almost like a breach of privacy between the player and Max. It was on Max's intention for the player to hear this low moment in his life.

    Games are great at making one scared, surprised, intrigued and a bunch of other emmotions, but that was the first time that I felt empathy towards a video game. It's not genre defining, but it was a moment that shows that there can be a lot of depth to what games can be. They can be more than just shoot-em-ups. They can convey some serious, complex emmotions. We will see more of this in games in the future.

  2. Turn based Strategy by Casisiempre · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Empire or Civilization 1 were genre defining games for turn based strategy. Civilization had descent graphics for its time and endless playtime.

  3. Ones that stand out for me by DanthemaninVA1 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm just going to point out some things that I think.

    I would take Planescape: Torment for RPGs over any Final Fantasy game, hands down.

    Ico had an emotional pull like few other games I've played.

    Not that I don't love Splinter Cell, but I'd rather play any of the Metal Gear Solid games any day.

    I hate to use newer games that have just come out really recently, but in WWII shooters, Call of Duty and Brothers in Arms are just head an shoulders above the rest.